Scale.



J. S. ALLEN.

SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1910.

1 2 M mm &m M

.7 5 5 m w W WW Z Z Z Z m a, m

0 9 5 62/ 2 3 10 M 2 /m. ,z 6 3 7 (Z F Rm /2 1 2M Z 3 w 1 w a z 92 maNORRIS mzrsm; ca, wAsHmamN. n c.

J. S. ALLEN.

SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1910.

Patented May 23, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG.

JONATHAN S. ALLEN, OF NEWCASTLE, INDIANA.

SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Application filed December 3, 1910. Serial No. 595,406.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN S. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newcastle, in the county of Henry and State of Indiana, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Scales, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates to scales, and more particularly to the class ofpitless platform scales.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a scale in whichthe platform thereof is mounted in the stationary frame of a scale,whereby it will have free movement either longitudinally or laterally ofthe said frame, without dislocating the bearings of the rocking shaftsor those of the platform when a team is driven onto the latter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a scale in which therocking shafts supporting the platform of said scale are hung instirrups which are adapted for movement either laterally orlongitudinally of the stationary frame of the scale, thereby preventingundue wear upon the bearings and obviating dislocation of the adjunctparts of the scale.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a scale in whichthe bearings thereof are protected from dust or dirt, thereby prolongingthe life of the same, the bearings being of chilled steel, thusincreasing the wear thereof and reducing friction to a minimum.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a scale inwhich the platform is suspended, whereby it may freely move when a wagonor other load is placed thereon, without possibility of the derange mentof the adjunct parts of the scale.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a scalewhich is simple in construction, strong, durable and inexpensive inmanufacture.

With these and others objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan View of a pitless platformweighing scale constructed in accordance withthe invention, with theplatform boarding omitted. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asectional view on the line 4. r of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of the stirrups removed from the scale. Fig. 6 is afragmentary bottom plan view of one of the platform beams.

Similar reference characters indicate cor responding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 2 designates the spaced parallelchanneled end beams or irons, and 3 the spaced parallel side channeledbeams or irons of a stationary scale frame, the ends of the said beamsbeing suitably united to form a unitary structure. The said ends of thebeams at their lower bearing flanges are cut at an angle of 45, so as toabut together when the beams have been joined.

Secured to the inner faces of the end beams 2 are spaced aliningcastings forming chairs 4, the same being provided with right angularupstanding webs 5, the upper ends of which terminate in laterallyextending bearings 6, the upper faces thereof being formed withelongated race-ways 7 in which engage bearing balls 8 supportingstirrups, as will be hereinafter more fully described. These stirrupseach comprise a casting forming a yoke 9 provided at opposite sidesthereof with laterally extending bearing ears 10, the lower faces ofwhich contain elongated race-ways 11 which engagethe bearing balls 8 andwhen the said stirrups are mounted to rest upon the bearing balls 8,they will be suspended thereby within the chairs. Thus, it will be seenthat the said stirrups may have free lateral movement in the chairs 1,and also may swing longitudinally of the scale frame, for a purpose aswill be hereinafter more fully described.

Formed in the inner faces of the lower horizontal portions of the yokes9 of the stirrups are elongated pockets 12, in each of which is looselyfitted a bearing block 13,

the same being preferably constructed from 1 chilled steel and isprovided in its upper face with a concave longitudinal channel 14, whileits lower face is reversely beveled, as at 15, to form a medial fulcrumapex 16 which rests upon the bed or bottom of the pocket 12, and engagedwith these bearing blocks 13 are the arms of rocking shafts, as will behereinafter more fully described.

Arranged parallel with the end beams 2 of the scale frame are therocking shafts 17, each being formed with outwardly projecting hangerlugs or arms 18, which, at their free ends, engage and rest in thechannels 14 of the bearing blocks 18 carried by the stirrups. Alsoformed on these rocking shafts 17 are outwardly extending lever arms 19,the same being projected in an opposite direction with respect to thearms 18, and which engage the ends of spaced platform joists or irons20, each being provided with bearing brackets 21 at opposite endsthereof which contain pockets 22 receiving the free ends of the leverarms 19, whereby on the rocking of the said shafts 17, the free ends ofthe arms will turn in the pockets 22, thus permitting the lowering ofthe platform bolsters or irons 20 when the scale is being operated.

Embedded in the joists 20 and rising therefrom near opposite endsthereof are bolt members 23, the same being passed through the platformboarding 2 1 for securing the platform of the scale superimposed uponthe joists and held fast thereon, the platform being constructed in theordinary well-known manner.

Suitably fixed centrally to one of the outer joists 20 supporting theplatform of the scale, is a bracket 25, the latter being provided withbearing cavities 26 receiving the bearings 27 of a cross lever or arm28, such cross lever being adapted for connection with the scale beam inthe usual or any preferred manner, the contiguous side beam 3 of theframe being provided with a suitable opening 29, through which saidlever 28 extends.

Integral with and projecting from opposite sides of the cross arm orlever 28 are supporting lugs 30, from which hang stirrups 31 formingbearings for the contiguous ends of a pair of arms 32 secured rigidly,as shown, or in any other suitable man ner, to the rocking shafts 17whereby the latter may be actuated when a load is placed upon the scaleplatform, so that the scale will determine the weight of such load.

In practice, a team is driven over the platform in the usual manneruntil the wagon or other vehicle to be weighed is disposed upon it, andwhen the team moves onto the said platform, 1t causes the vibrating ofthe platform elther longitudinally or laterally of the scale frame, butby reason of the employment of the stirrups which are hung upon thebearing balls 8 held within the race-ways 7 in the chairs 1 fixed to theframe, the friction by reason of the vibra tion will be reduced to aminimum and at the same time, free movement of the platform will beattained without dislocating or in any way injuring the adjunct parts ofthe scale.

It will be evident that by reason of the formation of the bearing cars10 on the yokes 9 of the stirrups, the bearing balls 8 will be protectedor shielded from dirt or foreign matter that would otherwise accu mulatein the race-ways. Also by the formation of the bracket 21 at the ends ofthe joists of the platform scale, the lever arms 19 of the rockingshafts will be protected from dirt or other foreign matter. Furthermore,the bearing blocks 13 may be read ily removed from the stirrups shouldthe same wear to any extent that would impede the balancing of the scalewhen in use, and in this manner new bearing blocks may be placed intheir stead.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and operation ofthe invention will be readily understood without requiring a moreextended explanation, and there fore the same has been omitted.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a scale frame and platform, of chairs fixed tothe frame and having channeled bearings, bearing balls loosely disposedin said bearings, stirrups having channeled bearings resting upon saidbearing balls, removable bearing blocks carried by the stirrups, rockshafts having arms engaged in said bearing blocks, lever arms projectingfrom said rock shafts, and platform supporting joists having pocketedbrackets engaged with said lever arms on the rock shafts.

2. The combination with the frame and platform of a scale, of chairsfixed to the frame, stirrups supported by the chairs for sliding andswinging movements, roller ele ments interposed between and frictionallyengaging with the chairs and stirrups, removable bearing blocks carriedby the stirrups, supporting joists fixed to the platform and havingpocketed ends, and rock shafts having arms engaged with the bearingblocks and in the pockets of the joists.

3. The combination with the frame and platform of a scale, of chairsfixed to the frame, stirrups supported by the chairs for sliding andswinging movements, the said chairs and stirrups being provided withelongated registering race-ways, bearing balls engaged in saidrace-ways, removable bearing blocks carried by the stirrups, supportingjoists fixed to the platform and having pocketed ends, rock shaftshaving arms In testimony whereof I aflix my signaengiiged with thebearing blocks and. in the ture in presence of two witnesses.

poc zets of the joists, and connections between the rock shafts and thebalancing JONATHAN ALLEN 5 beam of a scale, whereby on the rocking ofWitnesses:

the shafts, such scale beam may be actu- B. B. MARLEY,

ated. C. M. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

